Heat Transfer Fin with Variable Width Distal Surrounding Part
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In fin-tube type heat exchangers, excessive heat concentration leads to calcium ion precipitation as lime, blocking water flow and reducing heat transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heat transfer fin with a plate shape and through-holes, featuring a distal surrounding part with a smaller upstream width and middle surrounding parts, designed to reduce heat concentration and prevent lime formation, while maintaining efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fins are mounted on the tube to increase surface area for heat exchange, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but heat becomes excessively concentrated on partial areas of the tube causing lime formation
Solution Approach 1:
The fin structure is designed with varying thickness along its length, creating different local thermal characteristics. The thicker upstream portion and thinner downstream portion distribute heat more evenly across the tube surface, preventing localized overheating that causes lime formation while maintaining overall heat transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The fin is designed with a curved surface rather than a flat plate, adding a dimensional aspect to the heat transfer surface. This curvature modifies the flow pattern and heat distribution, reducing concentration of heat on specific areas while maintaining increased surface area for heat exchange
2Power
If heat is concentrated on partial areas to increase heat transfer, then heating efficiency is improved, but calcium ions precipitate as oxide forming lime that blocks water flow
Solution Approach 1:
The fin's variable thickness creates zones of different heat transfer intensity. The upstream thicker region provides stronger heating where needed, while the downstream thinner region reduces heat concentration to prevent lime formation, thus maintaining both heating efficiency and reliable water flow
Solution Approach 2:
The fin design proactively addresses lime formation by controlling heat distribution from the outset. The geometric configuration prevents excessive heat concentration before it can cause calcium precipitation, thereby preventing flow blockage before it occurs
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fin design improves temperature distribution, reduces lime generation, and maintains heating efficiency by evenly distributing heat and preventing overheating.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange between the heating medium and the combustion gas is indirectly performed through the tube
Implementation Method 2
combustion gas flows outside the tube. Therefore, heat exchange between the heating medium and the combustion gas is indirectly performed through the tube
Implementation Method 3
heat is excessively concentrated on a partial area of the tube so that calcium ions of heating water mainly used as the heating medium flowing through the tube are precipitated as oxide to form lime
Data Source
AI summary
A heat transfer fin includes a fin body and a plurality of through-holes formed through the fin body and spaced apart from each other in a first direction. When a flow direction of combustion gas that is to flow along a surface of the fin body is referred to as a second direction, the fin body includes a distal surrounding part that surrounds a first distal area located at the farthest upstream side of each of the through-holes. The shortest distance between an inner and an outer boundary of the distal surrounding part that is obtained in an area of the distal surrounding part located at the farthest upstream side is smaller than the shortest distance between the inner and the outer boundary that is obtained in an area of the distal surrounding part located at the farthest downstream side.